Ski binding



l Jan. 17, 1939. R L, 4T11-:FEL 2,144,207

SKI BINDING Filed Jan. 28, 1938 2 sheds-sheet 1 attorney Jan. 17, 1939.v

SKI BINDING 'Filed Jan. 28, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 Gttorneg Patented Jan.1.7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved ski binding of the flexiblehinge type, that is securely anchored at its front or toe portion to theski, and also firmly coupled or connected at `its rear portion to theinstep of the boot or shoe or the skier.

'I'he binding of my invention is adapted for use not only with speciallymade ski-boots, but it wear is equipped with a pair of socket platespermanently attached thereto, and these socketplates cooperate, throughthe use of a couplingpin, with the hinge member of the binding that ismounted on the skis. The socket-plate is attached to the instep of theshoe sole, and

when so equipped the boots or shoes are employed for ordinary Wearwithout in any manner impairing the utility of the regular boots orshoes, and without interference with the usual functions of the boots orshoes.

In carrying out my invention I provide "means whereby the ski may withfacility-be fitted or adjusted to the foot, and the binding coupled withthe boot, and with equal facility the `ski may be removed. When inposition for use, the binding although of a iiexible nature, at the sametime possesses the required longitudinal rigidity to insure the positivecontrolof the comparatively long ski that is necessary for turning orstopping, and the flexible binding is adequately braced against lateralpressures or strains for this purpose. n

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts that insure comfort, convenience and safety to the skier employingthe binding, as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed.In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combinedand arranged according to one mode I have devised for the practicalapplication of the principles of my invention, but it will be understoodthat changes and alterations may be made in the exemplifying drawings,within the scope of my appended claims, without departing from theprinciples of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a ski with thebinding of my invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the socket- (Cl. ZEG-11.35)

plate to be permanently attached to the exterior instep of a boot orshoe.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional viewv longitudinally of the ski, as atline 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the binding detached from the ski.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a conventional bootor shoe equippedwith the socketplate forming part of the coupling between the bindingand the boot.

Figure k6 is a perspective view of the toe-clip or clamp, detached fromthe binding; and Figure 7 is a perspective View of a portion of theflexible sole-plateA of the binding, showing the manner of attaching thepivoted toe-clip thereto.

A portion of the ski to whichthe binding is fastened is indicated as I,and upon the top of the ski is mounted the iiexible sole-plate 2 thatmaybe fashioned of desired shape, preferably hexagonal, from leather,rubber, composition material, or from other suitable material that isstrong, durable and iiexible to provide for the flexible couplingbetween the ski and the boot or shoe of the skier. The` toe portion ofthe flexible sole-plate is firmly and rigidly attached to the skithrough the useof a top, transversely extending attaching bar 3 ofappropriate metal that is riveted at 4, 4, to the top face of thesole-plate, and ,three attaching screws 5 are passed through the bar,the sole-plateand also through strap 6, and threaded into the ski. Thestrap E forms the toe-strap for the binding, and it is provided with theusual buckle 'l and retaining loop or keeper 8, and the screws, togetherwith the cross bar 3 iirmly attach the strap to theV ski for bucklingover the shoe or boot S in usual manner.

As Vindicated in Figure 3, the sole-plate is slightly elevated above thetop face of the ski to accommodate the straps and also to provide forflexing of the plate, and for this purpose two shims 9 and l0 areinterposed between the soleplate and the ski, one `in advanceA of thestrap and the other at the rear of the strap 6. These shims may befashioned of pliable material similar to the material of the sole-plate,and they aid in providing a rigid and firm anchorage for the front ortoe portion of the exible sole-plate on the ski in order that the rearAportion of the flexible sole plate may have its required exingmovement.

A transversely extending metal toe-clip or clamp Il with lateral flangesl2 to prevent displacement of the boot, is pivotally mounted on avertical axis at I3, which numeral indicates a rivet that passes throughthe clip, the sole-plate and the shim 9, and the pivotal movement of theclip is limited by the use of two retaining screws I4 that pass throughholes in the slip, and also through slots I5, I5 in the sole-plate 2 andshim 9, and these screws are rmly threaded into the ski I. Thus alimited range of movement on the pivot I3 is provided for the toe clipin adjusting the foot in the binding, or in adjusting the binding to thesole of the boot or shoe of the skier, and the screws firmly hold theclamp or clip in adjusted position.

The rear spacer or shim I is firmly attached to` the plate 2 through theuse of a cross brace or bar I 6 mounted on top of the sole-plateslightly to the rear of the attaching plate 3 and the space befL tweenthe attaching plate or bar 3 and the'cross brace I6 provides a ilexible,or hingejoint for the' sole-plate so that it may flex with the movementof the foot with relation to the ski, or vice Versa. Rivets I1 .passingthrough the cross brace, the sole-plate and the shim I0, iirmly andsecurely fasten these three members together, to reinforce thehinge-joint that occurs between the brace and the attaching bar 3.

At the rear end of the sole-plate, the usual ankle strap I8, with itsbuckle I9 and keeper 20, are secured, the strap being mounted beneaththe sole plate and secured by rivets 2|. These rivets pass through ametal brace plate 22and through "the sole-plate 2 and the strapV I8. Thebrace sole-plate.

plate 22, which is mounted on top of the rear,

hinged, part of the sole plate, extends longitudi- Y nally of thebinding or of the ski, and a third rivet 2I secures the front end of theplate 22 to the nal brace plate 22 an upright coupling pin 23 is rigidlymounted, and of sufiicient length for coaction with a socket 24centrally located in the .metal socket-plate 25. The socket-plate 25 isrigidly mounted by screws 26 on theunderface of the Vsole or instep I ofthe shoe S, as bestseen in Figure 5, and the screwheads, as is also thecase with screws 5, and I4,

and the rivets 4, I3, I1, and 2I,` are countersunk,

as indicated.` v

This pin'and socket arrangement is of such a nature as to couple therear portion of the flexible sole-plate with the boot of the skier toinsure facile relative movement of the rski and boot, and yet maintain asafe anchorage or coupling of the binding to the boot, which couplingabsorbs lateral strains as well as longitudinal stresses, and preventsdisplacement of the cooperatingl parts.

In attaching the binding to the ski, the binding is secured by means ofthe screws at such a point on the top surface of the ski atapproximately the balance point of the ski. For attaching the socketplate to the boot, the latter is rst properly set in the toe-clip andthe binding, and the clip or clamp having been adjusted to the boot andfixed in adjusted position, the coupling pin is used as a guide forlocating the position of the socket 24 and the socket-plate on theinstep of the boot. After this position has been located, the socketplate 25 is firmly fastened to the instep so that the socket will neatlyfit over the pin.

The boot or shoe equipped with the socketplate, it will be apparent, maybe used. for ordinary wear, and is ready at all times for use with thebinding of the ski, and the ski may readily be fput on and strapped tothe booted foot, to

insure comfort, convenience and safety to the wearenor skier.

Variouschanges may be made in the exemplified structures for the purposeof adapting the binding and the socket-plate to different types of shoesor boots, but it will be understood that these changes or alterationsmay be made without departing from the principles of my invention as setforth in the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatv I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A ski binding comprising a transversely ilexible sole-plate and meansfor attaching said plate to a ski in spaced relation therewith, a toeclip. pivotally mounted on the sole plate, a couplingl plate having asocket and means for attaching said plate to a boot, a reinforcingT-shaped member mounted on the rear, free portion of the soleplate, anda pin mounted on said member for;

co-action with the socket.

2. A ski binding comprising a transversely flexible sole plate and meansfor attaching said plate to a ski in spaced relation therewith, apivotally adjustable toe-clip mounted on said sole-plate, a

reinforcing T-shaped member mounted on the rear, free portion of thesole-plate and a coupling pin rigid with said member, a coupling platehaving a socket to receive the pin, and means for attaching the couplingplate to a boot.

` 3. A ski binding comprising a transversely flexible sole-plate, atransversely arranged attaching plate and screws fastening said platesto the ski, a transversely arranged brace plate slightly spaced to therear of the attaching plate to form a hinge joint and means for securingthe .brace` plate to the sole-plate, a coupling pin mounted at therear-free end of the sole-plate, a socket-plate for co-action with saidpin, and means for fastening the socket-plate to a boot.

4. A ski binding comprising a transversely ilexible sole-plate, atransversely arranged attaching plate and screws fastening said platesto the ski, a T-shapecl reinforcing plate mounted on the soleplate toform a hinge joint between the latter plate and the attaching plate, acoupling pinv RAY L. TIEFEL.

